BASILDON Hospital has set itself the target of halving the number of patients who die from one of the UK’s biggest killers – sepsis.

Health chiefs from the hospital are working to lead the way in tackling the life-threatening condition, which arises when the body responds to an infection by attacking its own tissues and organs.

Sepsis leads to shock, multiple organ failure and death, especially if not recognised early and treated quickly enough. It results in the deaths of 37,000 people each year, costing the NHS £2.5 billion.

To mark International Sepsis Awareness Day over the weekend, patient safety champions from the hospital hosted a stand to raise awareness about the condition.

Staff from the A&E department were thanked by Clare Panniker, the hospital’s chief executive, for their efforts to identify the infection as early as possible, ultimately saving lives Clare said: “Sepsis is going to be one of the next big patient safety priorities for the NHS and it is good to know we are ahead of the curve.

“We have got some great initiatives going on and the vast majority of our patients with suspected sepsis are given antibiotics within one hour, one of the biggest things we can do to help save lives.”

Rotimi Jaiyesimi, associate medical director for patient safety at Basildon, said: “It is crucial we raise awareness of sepsis, educating medical staff about what they should look for and why it’s important that we start investigations and treatment within the first hour following diagnosis.

“This is about people who are susceptible to infection – for example those who have had surgery or chemotherapy. If they are feeling unwell, breathing fast, have a high temperature, low blood pressure and are dizzy or dehydrated then they might have sepsis and should be treated quickly.”

The hospital has also been working to improve sepsis detection alongside the UK Sepsis Trust and local campaigner Claire Jupp, 42, after her sister Kay Dejan, 44, from Chafford Hundred, died of sepsis after routine surgery to a broken knee at Basildon Hospital in 2011.